Doc shows tough life of this sport

THE boxer’s life is one of sacrifice and commitment. The demands are huge, as are the rewards if you have the talent, work ethic and heart.

Boxers tend to come from ordinary if not difficult backgrounds. The good ones are as hungry as they are gifted. And they all have a story to tell, which is why I’m delighted the BBC chose to broadcast a brilliant documentary about our fighters.

The makers of Stable: The Boxing Game, which airs tonight after Match of the Day, followed the fighters around for 18 months, charting the ups and downs of life in the gym.

All those featured – Chris Billam-Smith, Lawrence Okolie, Daniel and Caroline Dubois, Ellie Scotney, Adam and Hassan Aziz, Robbie Davies Jnr and Anthony Fowler – are portrayed in the raw.

It is essentially a forensic examination of fighters as they approach fights, from six-rounders to world-title bouts. The camera is on their shoulders the whole time, offering an incredible insight. They don’t all win, which is revealing. It shows how Shane McGuigan operates as a trainer. And you have to put up with my ugly mug (left) at times.

The show was made by Lorton Entertainment, the award-winning outfit that made the Rooney documentary.

Above all it shows how human boxers are. This is a brutal business. You have to be tough to endure. It’s not just for boxing fans. This is the story of life. There is some riveting stuff that will appeal to a broad cross section of people.

The fourth and final episode was my favourite because by then the audience has really connected with the boxers.

It is so revealing, especially when Okolie defends his WBO cruiserweight title against Billam-Smith (top). Okolie had left us by then but there was no tension. That’s the game. No hard feelings.

Though in general fighters allow the cameras a glimpse of their pre-fight routines, the real behind-the-scenes stuff is not for public consumption.

Nothing is off limits here. The show captures what it’s like for fighters in the lead-up, the weigh-in, getting hands wrapped, and then the aftermath, which is always incredibly intimate one way or another.

I’m proud of the result and commend it to everyone. You will not be disappointed.